Women, on the other hand, are significantly more likely to make an office-based visit, according to 2018 data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “It’s well documented that, compared to women, men are much worse at preventive care,” said Dr Petar Bajic, a urologist at the Cleveland Clinic.
Some men shy away from seeing doctors because they fear receiving bad news, said Dr Joseph Alukal, urologist and director of Men’s Health at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia. Some men might also “fall into the trap of just sticking our head in the sand,” he said. My father-in-law ignored his blurred vision and headaches for months.
But avoidance can make the anxiety and fear worse, said Nora Brier, an assistant professor of clinical psychiatry in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. And if a patient waits until symptoms are severe, “it does tend to propagate a stigma that they should be scared of the doctor’s office,” Bajic said.
There are other reasons men might delay checkups, Alukal explained. In his experience, he said, health issues are “very rarely discussed with other men.” And many young men, he added, aren’t conditioned to make regular doctor visits the way that young women are encouraged to schedule annual OB-GYN appointments.
Diana Sanchez, a professor of psychology and department chair at Rutgers University, has found in her research over the years that men who have more traditional beliefs about masculinity are less likely to use preventive care or seek medical treatment for injuries and infections because they tie this resistance to bravery and self-sufficiency.
As those men get older, however, this reluctance to get routine medical care can have serious consequences, Alukal said.
Men die younger than women, according to data from the CDC, and some of the leading causes of death — like heart disease and diabetes — are conditions that doctors screen for during routine checkups.
If you are a doctor-resistant man, like my husband and his dad, here are a few ideas that may help you inch closer to making that appointment.
Find a professional you trust
Even if you’re willing to visit a doctor, finding one that you trust can be a challenge. You can ask friends and family members for recommendations, or use platforms such as Vitals, an online physician booking site where patients can leave detailed ratings.
When you decide on someone, “see if you have rapport with the person, if you’re feeling like the provider is warm, or matches your personality style,” Brier said. And if you’re uncomfortable with a doctor, “get a new one,” she said. Even if you are limited to a particular practice, there might be other physicians on staff that meet your needs.
If nervous, start with telehealth
Check to see if your initial visit can be done virtually, Alukal said. “It’s better than nothing, and it’s a great place to start if it gets you closer to coming in and seeing me,” he said. After this first visit, he has found, patients are less resistant to an in-person appointment, because he has already created a relationship with them.
Be open with your doctor about any fears you have, Brier advised. “If you have worries about family members’ illnesses or the way they were treated when they had diagnoses, share them,” she said.
Bring a loved one to in-person visits
Heading into the office is still essential, Bajic said. Some conditions, like high blood pressure, which is a major risk of heart disease, can be diagnosed only during a physical exam, he said.
Skin conditions are often noticed during physical exams, too — and men are more likely than women to develop melanoma by age 50, according to the American Academy of Dermatology.
And symptoms such as erectile dysfunction can be the first sign of a more significant issue, and often warrant a more thorough checkup, Alukal said, adding that erectile dysfunction can precede more serious problems, like a heart attack.
“It’s not uncommon that, when a man sees me for some urination-related issue, that I may end up diagnosing him with conditions like diabetes or undiagnosed obstructive sleep apnea,” he said.
So get a date on the calendar, Brier said, and bring a loved one along for support — whether it’s a partner, a friend or even a kid. And consider snagging the first appointment of the day to avoid prolonged jitters and the impulse to cancel.
Going to appointments gets easier
As for routine appointments, Bajic used a car analogy for his patients: “If they’re good about doing regular maintenance on their car, they should be good about doing regular maintenance on their body,” he said. (Instead of an oil change, prioritise a cholesterol check.) The Mayo Clinic has a shortlist of recommended annual screenings for men.
“The more you do the thing you fear, the easier it’s going to be,” Brier added.
Tom’s dad didn’t enthusiastically run to the doctor; his wife nearly threw a net over him and dragged him there. If you also have a reluctant man in your life, Alukal suggested being persuasive without guilt-tripping or shaming.
Tell your loved one how much you care about them and how much you want them to stay healthy, he said.
“There aren’t too many people who are going to fight back too hard when they hear something like that,” he added.
This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
Written by: Jancee Dunn
©2023 THE NEW YORK TIMES
